Q23: My pet has been attacked by a dog can the police do anything?

There have been decisions in the past by courts and authorities to suggest that it is the nature of a dog to kill and wound small animals. As such, unfortunately there is no certainty that the police could take action, in the event of your pet being killed or wounded by a dog.

The police will however take action if the dog was dangerously out of control (see Q653 for more information on this).

If the police cannot take action under the circumstances, the other possible alternative is to pursue civil proceedings against the dog owner. In this event, we would recommend contacting the Citizens Advice Bureau for further guidance on this process.

This answer does not take into account deliberate attacks or dog fights which are separate offences.